Global Greens in Belarus

Why form a Green Party in Belarus?

The constitution is aligned with Global Green principles.
Greens make effective alliances with existing parties. After a red-red-green coalition swept to power in Paris, the city was transformed into a utopia for cyclists and pedestrians.
Green Parties are a natural result of the evolution of a multi-party system. Every country in Europe (except Belarus) has a Green Party. Russia even has two registered Green Parties.
We need a left-wing party which is not linked to Russian political structures.
Forming such a party is in compliance with the declared policy of the current government.
Political change in Belarus must come from within the country, and forming a political party is the systemic, natural instrument for change.
The expiration of the five year statute of limitations for participation in the 2020 protests opens a new chapter in Belarusian politics.

Dots Consolidating

How to Form a Political Party

There is only one proven path to creating a political party in modern-day Belarus: build on the base of an already existing NGO. That is exactly how the party «Belaya Rus» was created (the only new party formed since the 1990's). Registration of an NGO is much simpler than registering a political party, requiring only ten founders. The NGO provides the accepted legal infrastructure for building a party, minimizing the risk for founders.

We plan to found an NGO, with bylaws designed to maximize the chances of successful registration and to be palatable to Green activists. There are only four simple goals:

Ensuring the inviolability of the constitutional order;
Promotion of the principles of the Global Greens in Belarus;
Promotion of the green benefits of the Belarusian development model;
Creation of the infrastructure necessary for building a political party.

The bylaws include a ban on financing from outside the country (mirroring restrictions on financing political parties). This avoids the pitfall that befell NGOs that were liquidated after 2020: they were financed by foreign structures that did not recognize the legitimacy of the government under which they were operated.

Green Principles in the Belarusian Constitution

By focusing on the constitution as the foundation of the political system, we avoid taking a position on any individual actor within that system.

These four pillars of the Global Greens have been adopted by political parties and movements around the world:

Sustainability
Social justice
Nonviolence
Grassroots democracy

The current constitution of Belarus (2022) embodies these principles to a degree that few other countries have matched.

Here is a detailed comparative analysis of six different versions of the Belarusian constitution. The 2022 constitution combines the sustainability and social justice features of the Soviet Union with the multi-party political construct of Western democracies.

Sustainability	Land Protection Article 13. Subsoil, water, forests are the exclusive property of the state. Agricultural land is owned by the state.
Social Justice	Right to housing Article 48. Citizens of the Republic of Belarus have the right to housing. Right to Healthcare Article 45. Citizens of the Republic of Belarus are guaranteed the right to health care, including free treatment in state healthcare institutions.
Non-violence	Non-violence and neutrality Article 18. The Republic of Belarus in its foreign policy proceeds from the principles of equality of states, non-use of force or threat of force, inviolability of borders, peaceful settlement of disputes. The Republic of Belarus excludes military aggression from its territory against other states.
Grassroots Democracy	Multiparty Rule Article 4. Democracy in the Republic of Belarus is based on a diversity of political institutions, ideologies and opinions. The ideology of political parties, religious or other public associations and social groups cannot be established as obligatory for citizens. Article 36. Citizens have the right to create political parties for the implementation and satisfaction of political, social, economic, cultural and other interests.

Sustainability

Land Protection

Article 13. Subsoil, water, forests are the exclusive property of the state. Agricultural land is owned by the state.

Social Justice

Right to housing

Article 48. Citizens of the Republic of Belarus have the right to housing.

Right to Healthcare

Article 45. Citizens of the Republic of Belarus are guaranteed the right to health care, including free treatment in state healthcare institutions.

Non-violence

Non-violence and neutrality

Article 18. The Republic of Belarus in its foreign policy proceeds from the principles of equality of states, non-use of force or threat of force, inviolability of borders, peaceful settlement of disputes. The Republic of Belarus excludes military aggression from its territory against other states.

Grassroots Democracy

Multiparty Rule

Article 4. Democracy in the Republic of Belarus is based on a diversity of political institutions, ideologies and opinions. The ideology of political parties, religious or other public associations and social groups cannot be established as obligatory for citizens.
Article 36. Citizens have the right to create political parties for the implementation and satisfaction of political, social, economic, cultural and other interests.

Communism's Best Feature is Preserved in Belarus

Compare Land Use in Washington DC and Minsk

Washington DC Land Use (privatized green space shown in red).

Evolution of Political Parties in Belarus

Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, its member states set about building modern multi-party democracies. In Belarus that process lasted thirty years, during which time the remains of the Communist Party retained de facto power.

By 2020 there were 15 registered political parties, but none of them except the Communists had any real power. The president is barred by the constitution from belonging to any party, and a large majority of MP's also had no party affiliation. Elections were regularly held, but in the absence of a functional multi-party system they were perceived as opaque and undemocratic.

In the pivotal presidential election of 2020, none of the major candidates had any party affiliation. The turmoil that surrounded that election forced an overhaul of the political system. In the run-up to Parliamentary and local elections held in February 2024, a Party of Power was registered and it quickly attained dominance. At the same time, all of the smaller parties were liquidated.

Parliament Composition	Legal Framework
Soviet Era (1924 - 1989) Communists have a constitutional monopoly in the Supreme Soviet. - Communist Party	Constitution of the Belorussian Soviet Socialist Republic. Article 6. The Communist Party of the Soviet Union is the leading and guiding force of Soviet society, the core of its political system, state and public organizations. Armed with the Marxist-Leninist doctrine, the Communist Party determines the general perspective of the development of society, the line of the domestic and foreign policy of the USSR; directs the creative activity of the Soviet people, gives a planned, scientifically substantiated character to their struggle for the victory of communism.
Transition Period (1990 - 2022) The Communist Party remains dominant in a nominally multi-party system. The president and most MP's have no formal party affiliation. - No party affiliation - Communist Party - Party of Labour and Justice	Constitution of Belarus Article 4 . Democracy in the Republic of Belarus is based on a diversity of political institutions, ideologies and opinions. Article 36. Citizens have the right to create political parties for the implementation and satisfaction of political, social, economic, cultural and other interests. Article 86. The President must not be a member of any political party for the entire term of office. Law on Political Parties Article 10. To create and operate a political party, at least 1,000 founders (members) from the majority of regions of the Republic of Belarus and the city of Minsk are required.
Multiparty Rule (2023 - present) Party-aligned candidates dominate parliamentary elections. All political parties field a candidate in the presidential elections. - Belaya Rus - Liberal Democratic Party	Law on Political Parties Article 10. To create and operate a political party, at least 5,000 founders (members) are required. At the same time, at least 100 founders (members) are required from each of the regions and the city of Minsk. Note: In 2023 the requirements for party registration were made much more stringent. Minimum membership increased fivefold, and a substantial presence was required in all regions. As a result, most parties were liquidated, including the Green Party and Social Democrats.

Soviet Era (1924 - 1989)

Communists have a constitutional monopoly in the Supreme Soviet.

- Communist Party

Constitution of the Belorussian Soviet Socialist Republic.
Article 6. The Communist Party of the Soviet Union is the leading and guiding force of Soviet society, the core of its political system, state and public organizations.
Armed with the Marxist-Leninist doctrine, the Communist Party determines the general perspective of the development of society, the line of the domestic and foreign policy of the USSR; directs the creative activity of the Soviet people, gives a planned, scientifically substantiated character to their struggle for the victory of communism.

Transition Period (1990 - 2022)

The Communist Party remains dominant in a nominally multi-party system. The president and most MP's have no formal party affiliation.

- No party affiliation
- Communist Party
- Party of Labour and Justice

Constitution of Belarus
Article 4 . Democracy in the Republic of Belarus is based on a diversity of political institutions, ideologies and opinions.
Article 36. Citizens have the right to create political parties for the implementation and satisfaction of political, social, economic, cultural and other interests.
Article 86. The President must not be a member of any political party for the entire term of office.

Law on Political Parties
Article 10. To create and operate a political party, at least 1,000 founders (members) from the majority of regions of the Republic of Belarus and the city of Minsk are required.

Multiparty Rule (2023 - present)

Party-aligned candidates dominate parliamentary elections. All political parties field a candidate in the presidential elections.

Parliament Composition after 2024 elections

- Belaya Rus
- Liberal Democratic Party

Law on Political Parties
Article 10. To create and operate a political party, at least 5,000 founders (members) are required. At the same time, at least 100 founders (members) are required from each of the regions and the city of Minsk.

Note: In 2023 the requirements for party registration were made much more stringent. Minimum membership increased fivefold, and a substantial presence was required in all regions. As a result, most parties were liquidated, including the Green Party and Social Democrats.

PARTY BUILDING IN TODAY'S BELARUS

Only three things are required by law to register a political party in Belarus.

1. Founding Members

The main task for creating a party is to convince 5,000 citizens to become founding members. Each founding member is required to give explicit assent to the current Belarusian constitution. So the goal is to convince people that the current constitution is worth supporting.

2. Platform

The platform is a formal set of principal goals to appeal to the general public. Existing platforms, especially those of other Green Parties, can serve as prototypes. Read more...

3. Charter

The party's ideology is set out in Article 2, which includes its goals. The primary goal is the same for all parties: "ensuring the inviolability of constitutional order". Read more . . . .

Four political parties, with support from their Russian counterparts, were the first to meet the threshold of 5,000 active members spread around the country.

Political Parties Currently Registered in Belarus

Belarusian Party	Candidate for President 2025	Candidates for MP 2024*	MPs	Idealogy	Russian Partner Party
Belaya Rus Wikipedia	Alexander Lukashenko †	71	51	Preservation of the communist heritage Unity Agrarianism	United Russia
Party of Labour and Justice Wikipedia	Alexander Khizhnyak	21	8	Socialism Laborism Loyalism	A Just Russia – For Truth
Communist Party Wikipedia	Sergey Syrankov	37	7	Communism Marxism-Leninism	Communist Party of the Russian Federation
Liberal Democratic Party Wikipedia	Oleg Gaidukevich	54	4	Right-wing populism Russian-Belarusian unionist Loyalism	Liberal Democratic Party of Russia

Political Parties Currently Registered in Belarus

Belaya Rus

Idealogy:

Preservation of the communist heritage
Unity
Agrarianism

Candidates for MP 2024: 71

MP's: 51

Candidate for President 2025: Alexander Lukashenko †

Russian Partner Party: United Russia

Party of Labour and Justice

Idealogy:

Socialism
Laborism
Loyalism

Candidates for MP 2024: 21

MP's: 8

Candidate for President 2025: Alexander Khizhnyak

Russian Partner Party: A Just Russia – For Truth

Communist Party

Idealogy:

Communism
Marxism-Leninism

Candidates for MP 2024: 37

MP's: 7

Candidate for President 2025: Sergey Syrankov

Russian Partner Party: Communist Party of the Russian Federation

Liberal Democratic Party

Idealogy:

Right-wing populism
Russian-Belarusian unionist
Loyalism

Candidates for MP 2024: 54

MP's: 4

Candidate for President 2025: Oleg Gaidukevich

Russian Partner Party: Liberal Democratic Party of Russia

† According to Article 102 of the 1994 constitution (still in effect today), the president cannot be a member of any party.
* - Source for candidate data: Central Electoral Commission .

EXCERPTS FROM PLATFORMS OF POLITICAL PARTIES WORLDWIDE

Communist Party

Preserve the legislatively established state ownership of land
Universal access to free quality education and qualified medical care
Comfortable housing, recreation and social security

Full Text of Platform:

Belaya Rus

The Party sees the future of the Republic of Belarus in evolutionary development based on our accumulated experience of state building
Systematic and targeted fight against corruption
Formation of environmental awareness of citizens

Full Text of Platform:

Party of Labour and Justice

Right to work and fair remuneration for work
High-quality and affordable housing throughout the country
Fair distribution of social benefits

Full Text of Platform:

Liberal Democratic Party

Conducting elections using a proportional-majoritarian system, and not just single-mandate constituencies. Party lists guarantee competition and an alternative at all levels of government

Full Text of Platform:

Green Party of Finland

Financing municipal projects that promote walking, cycling and public transport.
Deepen European and global cooperation, ensure Finland’s security and work towards a more stable world.

Full Text of Platform:

Green Party of Canada

Ensure access to zero-carbon public transportation, with high-speed rail networks between major cities, and spokes of light rail and electric bus connections across the country.
Redefine the concept of wealth, to focus on quality of life rather than capacity for over-consumption

Full Text of Platform:

CHARTERS OF REGISTERED POLITICAL PARTIES

The primary customization is in article 2, which includes the goals and principles. The first seven goals are defined by law, starting with "ensuring the inviolability of the constitutional order". After that, the party can add its own goals.

Party	Charter Scan	Excerpts from Goals and Principles
Belaya Rus (устав) Founded in 2023.	13,069 words, 14 chapters.	2.1. The goals of the Party are: 2.1.1. ensuring the inviolability of the constitutional order . . . 2.1.3. unification of citizens of the Republic of Belarus based on the priority of national interests, cultural traditions, historical memory, patriotic and spiritual and moral values of the Belarusian people, the desire to preserve the sovereignty and independence of the state; 2.4. The party operates on the basis of the following principles: 2.4.2. democracy;2.4.4. transparency;2.4.5. autonomy and equality of all political parties;
Party of Labour and Justice (устав) Founded in 1993, charter amended in 2023.	2,864 words. 11 chapters.	2.1. The goals and objectives of the RPTS are: 2.1.1. ensuring the inviolability of the constitutional order . . . 2.1.9. formation of a society of economic well-being, defending the interests of working people, human rights to work and its fair remuneration;
Communist Party (устав) Founded in 1996. Charter amended in 2023.	7,112 words, 7 chapters.	2.1. The CPB, based on the creative development of Marxism-Leninism, sets its goals: - ensuring the inviolability of the constitutional order 1.6. The CPB stands firmly on the proven Marxist-Leninist principles of proletarian internationalism and actively promotes the strengthening of the unity of the international communist and labor movement and fraternal ties with communists around the world. 4.3. A party member is obliged: - to constantly study and creatively apply Marxist-Leninist teachings in practical work
Liberal Democratic Party (устав) Founded in 1994, charter amended in 2023.	2,635 words, 7 chapters.	2.1. The goals and objectives of the LDPB are: ensuring the inviolability of the constitutional order . . . elucidation and propaganda of the ideas of liberalism.

Belaya Rus (устав)

Founded in 2023.

13,069 words, 14 chapters.

2.1. The goals of the Party are:

2.1.1. ensuring the inviolability of the constitutional order
. . .
2.1.3. unification of citizens of the Republic of Belarus based on the priority of national interests, cultural traditions, historical memory, patriotic and spiritual and moral values of the Belarusian people, the desire to preserve the sovereignty and independence of the state;

2.4. The party operates on the basis of the following principles:
2.4.2. democracy;2.4.4. transparency;2.4.5. autonomy and equality of all political parties;

Party of Labour and Justice (устав)

Founded in 1993, charter amended in 2023.

2,864 words. 11 chapters.

2.1. The goals and objectives of the RPTS are:
2.1.1. ensuring the inviolability of the constitutional order
. . .
2.1.9. formation of a society of economic well-being, defending the interests of working people, human rights to work and its fair remuneration;

Communist Party (устав)

Founded in 1996. Charter amended in 2023.

7,112 words, 7 chapters.

2.1. The CPB, based on the creative development of Marxism-Leninism, sets its goals:
- ensuring the inviolability of the constitutional order

1.6. The CPB stands firmly on the proven Marxist-Leninist principles of proletarian internationalism and actively promotes the strengthening of the unity of the international communist and labor movement and fraternal ties with communists around the world.

4.3. A party member is obliged:
- to constantly study and creatively apply Marxist-Leninist teachings in practical work

Liberal Democratic Party (устав)

Founded in 1994, charter amended in 2023.

2,635 words, 7 chapters.

2.1. The goals and objectives of the LDPB are:

ensuring the inviolability of the constitutional order
. . .
elucidation and propaganda of the ideas of liberalism.

OFFICIAL PRONOUNCEMENTS REGARDING PARTY BUILDING

We have never interfered and will not interfere with party building, especially for initiatives that come from people who sincerely love their country.

A.G. Lukashenko

Political parties have enough leeway to promote their own vision. This depends on the orientation of the parties themselves, which can be represented by a wide spectrum — from left to right.

A.G. Lukashenko

We do not reject progressive forms of Western European democracy. We will integrate them.

A.G. Lukashenko

At the moment, the level of trust in political parties in Belarusian society is low.

president.gov.by

Planned Projects

The activities described on this site would be carried out only after an NGO is officially registered. The only activity that is underway now is preparation for the founding conference of the NGO.

Planned projects share these characteristics:

They fit the stated goals of the NGO, and would be carried out only after approval by the Ministry of Justice.
They were previously carried out under the auspices of civil society organizations that have ceased operations in Belarus.
They can be accomplished without grants from foreign sources.
They maximally leverage volunteer work and Internet resources.

Operating an unregistered NGO is criminalized under Article 193-1 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus ("Organization of the activities of an extremist formation or participation in it, or organization of the activities of an illegal public association or participation in it").